Folding table with flexible top



Dec. 26, 1950 J. F. HART 2,535,921

FOLDING TABLE WITH FLEXIBLE TOP Filed April 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l (Ittorneg ya/aw D ec. 26, 1950 J. F. HART 2,535,921

FOLDING TABLE WITH FLEXIBLE TOP Filed April 14, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 J Imnentor Gttorneg Patented Dec. 26, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim. (Cl. 311-Z8') This invention relates to furniture and more particularly to a table, it being one object of the invention to provide a table of the collapsible type having a top removably mounted upon supporting legs which are .pivotally connected with each other in such a manner that they may be moved from an extended position to a folded position in which they form a hollow elongated structure about which the top maybe disposed in a folded condition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable table wherein the top consists of a plurality of strips or sections which are hinged to each other and thus allowed to be moved from a position in edge to edge engagement with each other to form a flat top to a position in which the top is rolled and forms a hollow structure in which the folded legs may be enclosed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foldable table wherein the top, when in its extended and flattened condition, is .releasably secured to supporting bars which extend across upper ends of the legs and are firmly but releasably held in engagement with the legs.

Another object of the invention is to prolegs and the top in its folded or rolled condition and disposed about the collapsed legs.

improved folding table has a top i which is foldable from the extended position shown in Figure 1 to the rolled condition shown in Figure 5, and, when extended, rests upon bars .2 carried by a support 3. The top consists of a plurality of strips or sections t which are of the same length but of progressively greater width from one side of the top to the other side thereof and have their ends bent downwardly to form end flanges 5 and their side edge portions bent downwardly to form side flanges 6. The end flanges 5 have their end portions projecting from side edges of the strips to form hinge ears 1 through which rivets 8 are passed to serve as pivot pins and pivotally connect the strips or sections with each other, and referring to Figure 5 it will be seen that since the said strips or sections are of progressively increased width the table top may be rolled and form a hollow vide supporting legs having upper and lower ends pivoted to connecting plates constituting corner members for a supporting structure formed by the legs when in their extended positions, the upper corner plates being of such configuration that they serve as brackets adapted for engagement with the bars upon which the table top rests when in its flattened and extended position.

Another object of the invention is to provide the table with bars so connected with the anchoring plates that adjustments may be made to regulate the height of the table when set up for use.

Another object of the invention is to provide a folding table consisting of elements which may be formed of sheet metal and is of light weight but very strong and not liable to be bent or broken.

The inventionis illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the improved folding table set up for use.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the legs in an up or extended position for use.

Fig. 4 is aside elevation showing-the legs collapsed.

Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing the collapsed and compact structure when removed from its support and collapsed. The side flanges 6 are so bent that they extend downwardly at an incline, as shown in Figure .2, and referring to this figure it will be seen that the flanges along ad joining side edgesof the sections diverge downwardly and thus will not interfere with tilting or pivot movement of the sections to the collapsed or rolled condition. Since all of the strips or sections have flanges along their ends and opposite sides, the table top will have smooth side edges when in its extended condition. Attention is also called to the fact that the downwardly bent flanges along outer side edges of the end ones of the sections are bent inwardly to form lips 9 which are spaced downwardly from the strips and free along their inner side edges and flush with lower edges of all of the side flanges so that the extended top will rear solidly upon the bars 2. These bars or rails 2 are formed of extruded metal and of tubular formation throughout their length and oblong in cross section, as shown in Figure 3. Sets of pins l0 having heads at their outer ends project from outer side walls of the bars in spaced relation to ends thereof and while each set has been shown consisting of two pins it will be understood that additional pins may be provided if so desired. Stems orrods H are rotatably mounted through end portions of the bars and at their upper ends carry tongues or latches l2 while their lower ends are provided with wings It by means of which the stems may ge grasped and easily turned in order to move the latches into and out of 3 position to engage across the lips 9 and securely but detachably hold the top in its flattened condition upon the bars.

The support 3 consists of a plurality of legs 14 which are arranged in pairs, the legs of each pair being pivotally connected with each other by pins or rivets I so that they may be swun from the extended position shown in Figure 3 to the folded position shown in Figure 4. These legs are formed of extruded metal and of channeled formation and each leg has its side flanges projecting away from the companion leg so that the legs may have pivotal movement without interference by the flanges. Tongues 16 are formed at ends of the legs having inwardly pro.- jecting flanges so that the flanges of these legs will not interfere with pivotal movement of the legs relative to upper and lower plates or brackets connected. These brackets are each bent midway its width along a vertical line to provide side portions disposed at right angles to each other and intermediate portions of the upper brackets I? are cut away to form arms 16 having slots 26 leading horizontally from their inner side edges. The spaces between the arms are of such width that the bars 2 will fit snugly therein, and since these spaces are at the junction of the right angularly disposed side portions of the brackets the bars may be applied in the direction shown in Figures 1 and 3 or in a direction at right angles thereto. When the bars are fitted in the spaces they are held in spaced parallel relation to each other and selected ones of the pins ID are engaged in the slots of arms which are in flat face to face engagement with outer side faces of the bars. The weight of the bars tends to spread the pivotally connected legs from their upper ends and this causes the pins to be retained in the slots of the arms. Movement of ends of the companion arms towards or away from each other causes the height of the sup-' port to be adjusted and it Will therefore be evident that by properly selecting the pins which are to be engaged in the slots of the arms [9 the height of the support may be controlled and a table of a desired height obtained. When the table is to be take apart the stems or rods I l are turned to move the latches I2 out of overlapping engagement with the lips of the top and the top is then rolled to its collapsed position shown in Figure 5. The bars 2 are now removed from the upper brackets and the legs tilted to 4 the folded position in which side edges of the brackets are in contact with each other. This reduces the support to a hollow and compact condition in which it may be deposited within the rolled top and the legs may be passed longitudinally through the rolled top and the collapsed table then easily lifted and carried from one place to another or stored in a small space.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

A foldable table comprising a foldable support, bars carried by said support and supported horizontally thereon, a top consisting of a plurality of stripshaving depending side flanges and end flanges, the end flanges being formed with ears pivotally connecting the strips for movement from an extended position to a folded position,

' the flanges along pivotally connected sides of the strips being disposed diagonally and extending downwardly in diverging relation to each other to permit movementof the strips to a folded position, said side flanges resting upon said bars when the top is extended, the outer side flanges of end ones of said strips being provided with inwardly projecting lips resting upon end portions of said bars, and latches carried by opposite end ortions of said bars and engaging the tongues of said end strips, the latch at one end of said bars having a stem rotatably mounted vertically through ends of the bar and having a bill projecting laterally from its upper end and moved into and out of overlapping securing engagement with the tongue secured thereby by turning movements of the stem.

JOHN F. HART.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Sweden July 14, 1942 

